Sensor for Early Recognition of Imminent Vasovagal Syncope

As a rule, vasovagal syncopal episodes tend to occur as solitary or very infrequent events in most patients. Consequently, in terms of preventive therapy, few patients require more than reassurance, and most of the remainder are adequately managed using any of several prophylactic pharmacological treatment strategies (e.g., salt/water retention, beta-adrenergic blockade, disopyramide, midodrine, etc.). Occasionally, however, syncopal events persist. In such cases, implantable therapeutic devices designed to both recognize an imminent vasovagal faint, and initiate treatment automatically (e.g., pacemakers with specialized pacing algorithms, or combined pacemaker-drug infusion systems), may prove beneficial.